The US Department of Justice announced a settlement last week with New York-based IT staffing firm Amiga Informatics over immigration-related discrimination claims. The company posted discriminatory job advertisements that solicited applications only from individuals with specific citizenship or immigration statuses, according to the department.
In one allegation, Amiga posted at least six job advertisements in 2021 that sought only US citizens or lawful permanent residents, excluding others with permission to work in the US such as refugees and those seeking or who have received asylum, according to Department of Justice. In another allegation, two advertisements sought only applicants with Optional Practical Training status, a temporary work authorization status given to certain non-US citizen students in the US. Those ads excluded refugees, lawful permanent residents and US citizens and nationals, among others, according to the department.
As part of the settlement, Amiga will pay $24,864 in civil penalties, according to the department. The company is also required to train its recruiters on the Immigration and Nationality Act’s requirements, revise its employment policies and be subject to departmental monitoring and reporting requirements.
“Employers have a responsibility to ensure that their job advertisements and hiring processes do not unlawfully exclude individuals because of their citizenship or immigration status,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.